Chapter Text
Joel loved running on a clear night.
Just because it tapped into their instincts didn't mean it wasn't fun too; crisp fall air rushing through their fur, the pack running off wild energy, leaves and twigs crushed under foot, moonlight glinting off of eyes and teeth and bathing them in it's warm glow...
Being in the forest on the outskirts of the city; letting instincts take over, their wolf sides free, was a great way to shake off all of their recent worries. Working on their new album had been stressful so far and it was nice to watch the pack let go for a bit.
When they got to a clearing Joel drifted to a stop, laying on the cool ground. Tommi and Olli were play fighting between the trees, Joonas occasionally jumping in, trying to headbutt both of them. Niko laid down next to him with a slight huff.
"Those three are idiots." He thought, his affection clear across their pack bond.
Joel huffed a laugh back at him, "our idiots," he thought back
Joonas tried to leap onto Tommi, letting out a whine when he was easily dodged, the larger wolf laughing at him. Joonas and Olli shared a look, grinning as much as they could in their current state, before they pounced at him together.
They almost had him, but Tommi dodged again, nimble for his size, and Olli whined as Tommi pinned him, teeth at his throat, no actual pressure in it if course, just enough to make him admit defeat, earning a lick to his nose and forehead when he gave in Joonas gave a barking laugh as he watched, running off a moment later when Tommi pulled back and shot after him.
Olli padded over and flopped down by them, "those two will be off for a while." He thought.
"Probably." Niko agreed, "I'm feeling up for another run though."
He got up and shook out his fur, remains of crunchy autumn leaves sticking to his belly as he sprinted off after their mates.
"You wanna follow too?" Olli asked.
"Naw, I'll stay here with you." Joel replied.
They listened as the rest of the pack got further away; Joel letting his mind wander, tomorrow they would be back in the studio, then they had an interview in a couple days, Olli's birthday was coming up, they were booking shows for the next year, he really hoped they would get that festival gig...
Olli scooted closer and nuzzled against him, pulling him back from his wild thoughts.
"We agreed no work tonight" he reminded him softly.
"You're right," he nudged their heads together with a sigh, "sorry."
They laid next to each other, content to just relax by themselves for a few more minutes until the others came back.
But they heard the soft crunch of leaves and twigs coming from the wrong direction, behind them instead of in front, one set of paws instead of three, unfamiliar and making their ears twitch.
They both jumped up as an unfamiliar wolf ran into view.
The newcomer scrambled to a stop when he saw them, posture stiff, waiting to see if they were aggressive over their territory.
He seemed young, Joel thought, maybe even younger then Tommi and Olli, about the same height as Niko but not as compact, and jet black, an almost blue tint in the silver light.
He stayed statue still, bright blue eyes flicking between himself and Olli as he observed them. He briefly met Joel's gaze, something akin to electricity passing between them and the stranger looked away, trying to look apologetic.
"Sorry, just passing through."
Joel felt his own eyes go wide, a quick look at Olli confirmed that he had hear the new voice too, deeper than expected but soft, both of them looking at him in shock.
"Holy crap... who are you?" Joel asked, looking directly into his eyes.
Olli took a small step forward, sniffing towards his scent.
The younger wolf took a couple tentative steps backwards, almost tripping on his paws; a soft "what the fuck?" coming from him, he was looking at them wide eyed as well, apparently unaware they had been able to hear him.
But of course, why would he think differently? The odds of them running into each other like this, on a random romp in the woods...
Joel took a step forward, intending to reassure him that he was perfectly fine, no reason to apologize, but paused when he heard 3 familiar sets of paws running towards them, Olli and him both looking back towards where their mates were approaching from.
Joel turned back in time just to see the stranger take advantage of their distraction to sprint back the way he came, ignoring his and Olli's calls of "wait!" and "come back!" leaving behind nothing but his comforting scent, warm like milk and honey.
Joonas was in the lead as the three rejoined them, looking around wildly. "Was that-?"
"Yeah." Joel thought at him, still in shock.
Niko and Tommi went over to where the mystery wolf had been standing, where his scent was the heaviest, Olli laying down with a whine.
"Where did he go?" "Why did he leave?" Joonas and Niko asked at the same time.
"We don't know," Olli answered miserably.
"Can't hear him anymore." Tommi added quietly.
Joel tried to concentrate on the stranger's voice but as Tommi had said it had gone silent, either he had gotten too far away or he had shifted back to a human.
There was only one reason they would be able to hear someone speak so clearly like that in wolf form, the same reason the others were ranging from confused to forlorn at the strange wolf's sudden disappearance.
Joel stared after where he had went, the connection as instant as it had been with any of his other mates and unmistakable. Something all wolves were taught to look out for as children.
Whomever this stranger was, he was supposed to be part of their pack.
So why the hell had he ran away like that?
Joonas nudged at Olli to get him up, both of them joining Niko and Tommi in trying to get his scent, Joel joining them with a deep inhale.
They could try to track the scent, could potentially find the stranger again, they were all thinking it...
"I don't think we should." Tommi told them, "he had to have heard you too and he ran. He must have some reason and we'll find him again eventually."
Joel appreciated how calm Tommi was, always rational.
They had met him as a wolf, they would be able to find as a human now as well.
It's not like he would fall off the face of the earth.
...
Aleksi was having a hell of a night.
He didn't even know why he had decided to take a run in an unfamiliar area; it had been like an itch under his skin as he had gotten closer to the edge of the city and he hadn't been in a rush, it was a long drive home and it had been awhile since he had let himself run wild...
He had run into others before, of course he had, werewolves weren't really uncommon...
But the few times he had run into others in wolf form he hadn't been able to actually hear them talk and they certainly haven't been able to hear him, only able to express a kind of a general feeling at each other between expressions and little yips and huffs; more than once had he and the other wolf had shifted back to be able to talk probably before going their separate ways.
But the two wolves he ran into tonight had spoken to him. There was no denying it. No denying the jolt he had felt when he had met one of their eyes. He couldn't get them out of his head, the light brown one had been silent, but his reaction had made it clear he had heard his apology, the one he had only been thinking in the hopes it would help him express it non-verbally.
But then the tall, lanky sand colored one had responded to him.
This was already making his head spin when he could hear three others approaching, something in his brain telling him that it was the rest of the pack. His wolf side had yelled at him to stay, approach them, talk to them; while his human side yelled at him to get the hell away, he had obviously intruded on the territory of a five-wolf pack and there's no way he would be able to get away if he ended up surrounded.
So against his instincts he had ran, hoping they wouldn't follow him because the tall one at the very least would be able to catch up to him with no problem, and who knows if the rest of the pack would be able to as well.
He had read all about pack connections, being able to talk to others in that form a clear sign. He hadn't imagined he would ever find that himself, hadn't wanted to.
He was a solitary creature, both in his personal life and his career; not having a pack to worry about his whereabouts was easier.
He didn't even have non-human friends; well, except Robin but he was fae, that didn't count.
Back at his car, in his human skin, he quickly dressed himself and grabbed the keys; he wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.
It would be fine, he told himself taking a deep breath, he wouldn't have to see them again and eventually he would forget about them.
And they would forget about him, just another lone wolf in the woods.
His logical side was at least happy with this answer, even if his heart squeezed uncomfortably at the thought.
He would be ok. He always was.